Display apparatus for recording/reproducing video signal and/or audio signal and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A display apparatus to store a broadcasting signal or a video signal and/or an audio signal in an external storage medium, and reproduce signals from the external storage medium includes a receiving processor, a controller, and an output unit. The receiving processor receives a video signal and/or an audio signal. The controller stores a video signal and/or an audio signal received using the receiving processor in the external storage medium in real time, if a user requires storage of the received video signal and the audio signal. The controller reproduces the stored video signal and/or audio signal from the external storage medium if the user requires reproduction of the video signal and/or the audio signal stored on the external storage medium. The output unit outputs the reproduced video signal and/or audio signal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. Continuation application filed under 37 USC1.53(b) claiming priority benefit of U.S. Ser. No. 10/785,404 filed inthe United States on Feb. 25, 2004, which claims the benefit of KoreanPatent Application No. 2003-16405, filed on Mar. 17, 2003 in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, and Korean Patent Application No.2003-26013, filed on Apr. 24, 2003 in the Korean Intellectual PropertyOffice, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein in theirentirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display apparatus for and method ofstoring or reproducing a video signal and/or an audio signal, and moreparticularly, to a display apparatus for and method of storing in realtime a received broadcasting signal including a video signal and/or anaudio signal, or a video signal and/or an audio signal received from anexternal AV device in an external storage medium, and reproducing thereceived video signal and/or the received audio signal from the externalstorage medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

A display apparatus not only displays contents provided from a PersonalComputer (PC) but also receives and displays a broadcasting signal, or avideo signal and/or audio signal provided from an external Audio/Video(AV) device. For example, the display apparatus can be a multi-functionmonitor or a multi-function Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). The displayapparatus generally includes a tuner and a decoder to perform the aboveoperations. However, the display apparatus cannot store the receivedbroadcasting signal or the video signal and/or the audio signal andreproduce the stored broadcasting signal or the video and/or audiosignal itself. Accordingly, to perform the storage and reproduction of asignal, a user must operate a PC connected to the display apparatus. Theuser must individually operate appropriate programs loaded on the PCwhenever trying to store or reproduce the signals. Also, the PC mustinclude a board, such as a television integration board, in order tostore a video signal and/or an audio signal received through the displayapparatus in a storage medium included in the PC.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention provides a display apparatus for andmethod of storing a video signal and/or audio signal received from anexternal Audio/Video (AV) device or a received broadcasting signal in anexternal storage medium in real time, and reproducing a broadcastingsignal, a video and/or audio signal from the external storage medium.

An aspect of the present invention also provides a display apparatus forand method of storing a received broadcasting signal or a video signaland/or audio signal received from an external AV device in an externalstorage medium in real time, and reproducing a broadcasting signal, avideo signal and/or audio signal from the external storage medium,without operating a computer connected to the display apparatus.

An aspect of the present invention also provides a display apparatus forand method of displaying a broadcasting or a video signal and/or audiosignal received from an external AV device in a format desired by auser, when storing or reproducing the broadcasting signal or the videosignal and/or audio signal in real time.

An aspect of the present invention also provides a display apparatus forand method of storing a video signal and/or audio signal received froman external AV device or a broadcasting signal in an external storagemedium and reproducing a video signal and/or audio signal or abroadcasting signal from the external storage medium, while displaying areceived broadcasting signal or the video signal and/or audio signalreceived from the external AV device in real time.

An aspect of the present invention also provides a display apparatus forand method of recording a received broadcasting signal or a receivedvideo and/or audio signal in an external storage medium in real time andreproducing a broadcasting signal or a video signal and/or audio signalfrom the external storage medium, while managing the external storagemedium on the basis of a file system thereof.

An aspect of the present invention also provides a display apparatus forand method of allowing a user to selectively store a broadcasting signalor a video signal and/or audio signal in an external storage medium orreproduce a broadcasting signal or a video signal and/or audio signalfrom the external storage medium, by informing the user of managementinformation for the external storage medium.

Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will be set forthin part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obviousfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a display apparatusconnected with an external storage medium includes a receiving processorthat receives a video signal and/or an audio signal; a controller thatstores the video signal and/or audio signal received using the receivingprocessor in the external storage medium in real time, if a userrequires storing of the received video signal and/or audio signal, andreproduces a video signal or audio signal stored on the external storagemedium, if the user requires reproduction of the video signal and/oraudio signal stored on the external storage medium; and an output unitthat outputs the reproduced video signal and/or audio signal.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a displayapparatus connected with an external storage medium includes a receivingprocessor that receives a video signal and/or audio signal; a controllerthat forms a virtual file system for the external storage medium, storesthe video signal and/or audio signal received through the receivingprocessor in the external storage medium in real time, if a userrequires storing of the received video signal and/or audio signal, withreference to information generated on the basis of the virtual filesystem, and reproduces a video signal and/or an audio signal from theexternal storage medium, if the user requires that reproduction of thevideo signal and/or audio signal stored on the external storage medium,with reference to the information generated on the basis of the virtualfile system; and an output unit that outputs the reproduced video signaland/or audio signal.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a displayapparatus connected with an external storage medium includes a receivingprocessor that receives a video signal and/or audio signal; acompression and decompression unit that, when set to a compression mode,compresses a video signal and/or an audio signal received from thereceiving processor, if a user requires storage of the received videosignal and/or audio signal, and, when set to a decompression mode,restores a video signal and/or audio signal received from an externalstorage medium, if the user requires reproducing of the video signaland/or audio signal stored on the external storage medium; an outputunit that outputs the reproduced video signal and/or audio signal; and acontroller that controls the compression and decompression unit in thecompression mode and stores a video signal and/or audio signalcompressed by the compression and decompression unit in the externalstorage medium in real time, if the user requires the storage, andoutputs the video signal and/or audio signal from the external storagemedium to the output unit through the compression and decompressionunit, if the user requires the reproduction.

According to still yet another aspect of the present invention, a methodof operating a display apparatus connected with an external storagemedium includes receiving a video signal and/or an audio signal; storingthe received video signal and/or audio signal in the external storagemedium in real time, if a user requires storage of the received videosignal and/or audio signal; and reading and reproducing a video signaland/or audio signal from the external storage medium, if the userrequires reproduction of the of the stored video signal and/or audiosignal stored on the external storage medium.

According to further aspect of the present invention, a method ofoperating a display apparatus connected with an external storage mediumincludes receiving a video signal and/or audio signal; compressing thereceived video signal and/or the audio signal if a user requires storageof the received video signal and/or the audio signal; storing thecompressed video signal and/or audio signal in the external storagemedium in real time; and restoring the stored video and/or audio signalstored on the external storage medium, when the user requiresreproduction of the video signal and/or audio signal; and outputting therestored video signal and/or audio signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other features and/or advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent and more readily appreciated bydescribing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention and peripheral devices thereof;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for operating the display apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for operating the display apparatusaccording to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present invention and peripheral devices thereof; and

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for operating the display apparatusaccording to still another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. Theembodiments are described below to explain the present invention byreferring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention and peripheral devices thereof. Thesystem shown in FIG. 1 comprises an antenna 100, a display apparatus 110according to an embodiment of the present invention, a remote controller130, and a Personal Computer (PC) 140. According to an aspect of theinvention, the antenna 100 receives broadcasting signals including videoand/or audio signals. However, it is understood that other types ofsignals may be received. Additionally, it is understood that other typesof electronic devices can be used instead of or in addition to the PC140, such as personal digital assistants, digital music/file playerssuch as MP3 players and digital video recorders, and other such deviceswhich can be connected to a display and store data.

The shown embodiment of the display apparatus 110 comprises a video andaudio signal receiving processor 111, a video signal processor 112, adisplay unit 113, an audio signal processor 114, a speaker 115, and acompression and decompression unit 116, an information receiver 117, acentral processing unit (CPU) 118, a Universal Serial Bus (USB)controller 119, and an On-Screen Display (OSD) information generator120. The video and audio signal receiving processor 111 is controlled bythe CPU 118 and receives the broadcasting signal through the antenna 100and receives a video signal and/or audio signal from an externalAudio/Video (AV) device. The received video signal from the externalAudio/Video (AV) device and through the antenna 100 is output to thevideo signal processor 112 and the compression and decompression unit116, respectively. The received audio signal from the externalAudio/Video (AV) device or through the antenna 100 is output to theaudio signal processor 114 and the compression and decompression unit116, respectively. While described as being received through both theantenna 100 and the external device, it is understood that the displayapparatus 110 can receive the signal from other sources, and need not beable to receive the signal from both the antenna 100 and the externaldevice. It is also understood that the CPU 118 is not restricted to aparticular type of microprocessor or processor.

The video signal processor 112 is controlled by the CPU 118. The videosignal processor 112 and processes at least one among the video signaltransmitted from the video and audio signal receiving processor 111 andthe video signal transmitted from the compression and decompression unit116 to be displayed on the display unit 113. As shown, the video signalprocessor 112 processes the video signal transmitted from the video andaudio signal receiving processor 111 and the video signal transmittedfrom the compression and decompression unit 116 so that the videosignals are displayed together in a display format from among variousdisplay formats such as a Picture-In-Picture (PIP) format, aPicture-By-Picture (PBP) format, etc. However, the video signalprocessor 112 need not do so in all aspects of the invention.

The display format is determined by the CPU 118. The CPU 118 determinesthe display format according to a user's request (or user's command)received through the information receiver 117. The CPU 118 controls thevideo signal processor 112 so that the video signal can be displayedaccording to the determined display format. Also, the CPU 118 determineswhether the video signal being stored on a storage medium 143 of the PC140 should be displayed on the display unit 113, according to the user'srequest received through the information receiver 117, to control thevideo signal processor 112. If the user does not want to display thestored video signal, the CPU 118 controls the video signal processor 112so that the stored video signal is not displayed on the display 113.However, if the user wants to display the stored video signal, the CPU118 controls the video signal processor 112 so that the stored videosignal is displayed on the display unit 113.

While described as being controlled by a user input, it is understoodthat the display format and/or the display of the stored video signalcan be otherwise input, such as in broadcast data received at thedisplay apparatus 110 or in default display formats and/or display timesused by the CPU 118. For instance, a condition for displaying thestoring video signal on the display 113 can be set by default accordingto an aspect of the invention. In this aspect, the CPU 118 controls thevideo signal processor 112 so that the stored video signal is displayedin real time on the display 113 unless the user does not input aseparate command. However, it is understood that the default could alsobe to not display the stored video signal in real time, or to displaythe stored video signal with a predetermined delay after the videosignal is stored on the external storage medium 143.

In the shown embodiment, when the stored video signal and/or audiosignal stored on the storage medium 143 is reproduced, the CPU 118controls the video signal processor 112 and the audio signal processor114 so that the video signal and/or audio signal received through thevideo and audio signal receiving processor 111 is output through thedisplay unit 113 and/or the speaker 115 in real time.

The display unit 113 is a device, such as a liquid crystal display(LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a plasma display device(PDP), a cathode ray tube (CRT) or any other device through which visualinformation is conveyed.

The audio signal processor 114 processes a received audio signal so thatthe audio signal transmitted from the video and audio signal receiver111 or the compression and decompression unit 116 can be output throughthe speaker 115. Also, the audio signal processor 114 can process theaudio signal so that management information for the storage medium 143of the PC 140 is output through the speaker 115, wherein the managementinformation is provided from the CPU 118. The speaker 115 outputs theaudio signal received from the audio signal processor 114. However, itis understood that if no audio signal is to be output by the displayapparatus 110 or if an external speaker is to be used, the audio signalprocessor 114 and/or the speaker 115 need not be included in the displayapparatus 110.

The video signal processor 112, the display unit 113, the audio signalprocessor 114, and the speaker 115 are output units for outputting videosignals and/or audio signals in the shown embodiment.

The compression and decompression unit 116 is controlled by the CPU 118.The CPU 118 and sets the compression and decompression unit 116 to acompression mode and a decompression mode according to the desiredfunction. If the compression and decompression unit 116 is set to thecompression mode, the compression and decompression unit 116 compressesthe video signal and/or audio signal output from the video and audiosignal receiving processor 111. The compression can be performedaccording to the MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 standards, by way of example, but canbe any suitable compression standard. The compressed video signal and/oraudio signal is output to a Universal Serial Bus (USB) controller 119.While described in terms of USB, it is understood that other protocols,such as IEEE 1394 (FIREWIRE) or USB 2.0 could be used, and that wirelessprotocols could be used such as 802.11 based protocols.

If the compression and decompression unit 116 is set to thedecompression mode, the compression and decompression unit 116 restoresa video signal and/or audio signal received through the USB controller119 into an original form of the signal. The compression anddecompression unit 116 and outputs the restored video signal and/oraudio signal to the video signal processor 112. It is understood that,where compression is not used, the compression and decompression unit116 need not be used. Additionally, if the video signal and/or audiosignal is received in a compressed mode, that only a decompression unit116 need be used.

The information receiver 117 receives a user's request transmitted fromthe remote controller 130, or receives a user's request generated byoperating a button (not shown) or a key (not shown) on a front panel ofthe display apparatus 110. The information receiver 117 transmits thereceived user request to the CPU 118. The CPU 118 is a controller forcontrolling operations of the video and audio signal receiving processor111, the video signal processor 112, the compression and decompressionunit 116, the USB controller 119, and the OSD information generator 120,according to the user's request received through the informationreceiver 117.

If a user requires storage of a received video signal and/or audiosignal, the CPU 118 controls functions of the display apparatus 110,including the compression and decompression unit 116 and the USBcontroller 119, so that the received video signal and/or audio signal isstored on the storage medium 143 of the PC 140 in real time.

If the user requires reproduction of a video signal and/or audio signalstored on the storage medium 143 of the PC 140, the CPU 118 controlsfunctions of the display apparatus 110 including the compression anddecompression unit 116 and the USB controller 119, so that the videosignal and/or audio signal is reproduced.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for operating the display apparatus110, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 2, the operations of the CPU 118 will be described in more detailbelow. While not required in all aspects, it is understood that themethod may be performed by computer software used by the CPU 118 toimplement the method of FIG. 2.

If the CPU 118 receives a control request for the storage medium 143 ofthe PC 140 from the information receiver 117 in operation 201, the CPU118 controls the OSD information generator 120 in operation 202. The OSDinformation generator 120 generates OSD information includinginformation to be required or inputted by a user, to perform the controlfor the storage medium 143. The generated OSD information is output tothe display unit 113 and displayed on the display 113.

If a user requires a function using a remote controller 130 withreference to the OSD information, the information receiver 117 receivesand transmits a request signal to the CPU 118. If the CPU 118 determinesthat the user requires storage of the received video signal and/or audiosignal in operation 203, the CPU 118 controls the compression anddecompression unit 116 in the compression mode in operation 204. Whilenot required in all aspects, the CPU 118 may determine whether thereceived video signal and/or audio signal are transmitted to the displayunit 113 and/or the speaker 115, by a user request using the remotecontroller 130.

The CPU 118 transmits a storage command to the PC 140 through the USBcontroller 119 in operation 205. While not required in all aspects, tostore a received broadcasting signal or a video signal and/or audiosignal received from an external AV device in the storage medium 143included in the PC 140, predetermined information can be transmitted andreceived between the PC 140 and the display apparatus 110. Thepredetermined information is information used for setting an environmentfor transmitting and receiving a signal between the PC 140 and thedisplay apparatus 110.

In operation 206, the CPU 118 sends a video and/or audio signalcompressed by the compression and decompression unit 116 to the PC 140using the USB controller 119 and the terminal 141. The compressed videoand/or audio signal is one among the broadcasting signal or the videosignal and/or audio signal transmitted from the external AV device and asignal selected by the user. If the user requires storage termination inoperation 207, the CPU 118 terminates the storage operation. However, ifthe storage termination is not required in operation 207, the CPU 118returns to operation 206 and continuously performs the storage operationuntil a signal requiring the storage termination is received.

Meanwhile, if storage is not required in operation 203 and if the userrequires reproduction of a stored video signal and/or audio signalstored on the storage medium 143 in operation 208, the CPU 118 controlsthe compression and decompression unit 116 to be set in thedecompression mode in operation 209. The CPU 118 transmits areproduction command to the PC 140 through the USB controller 119 inoperation 210.

If a video and/or audio signal is received from the PC 140 through theUSB controller 119 in operation 211, the CPU 118 controls thecompression and decompression unit 116 and the video signal processor112 so that the received video signal and/or audio signal is restored bythe compression and decompression unit 116, and is displayed on thedisplay 113 in operation 212.

If the user requires reproduction termination in operation 213, the CPU118 terminates the reproduction operation. However, if the user does notrequire the reproduction termination, the CPU 118 returns to operation211 and continuously performs the reproduction operation until a signalrequiring the reproduction termination is received.

The USB controller 119 is controlled by the CPU 118 to transmit thecompressed video and/or audio signal transmitted from the compressionand decompression unit 116 to the PC 140, and to transmit the compressedvideo and/or audio signal transmitted from the PC 140 to the compressionand decompression unit 116, according to a Universal Serial Bus (USB)standard. Also, the USB controller 119 transmits the storage requestcommand or reproduction request command transmitted from the CPU 118, tothe PC 140. However, it is understood that protocols other than USB canbe used.

The remote controller 130 is constructed so that a user can inputhis/her command with reference to the OSD information displayed on thedisplay unit 113. However, it is understood that the controller 130 neednot be used in all aspects, and that other input devices can be used. Itis also understood that the OSD information can be otherwise displayed,such as on a display on the remote control 130 or a personal digitalassistant.

The PC 140 comprises a USB terminal 141, a CPU 142, and the storagemedium 143. The storage medium 143 is an external storage medium of thedisplay apparatus 110. Accordingly, if a storage request command or areproduction request command is received from the display apparatus 110through the USB terminal 141, the storage request command orreproduction request command is transmitted to the CPU 142. Also, thesignal transmitted and received between the display apparatus 110 andthe PC 140, for setting the environment for the storage or reproduction,is transmitted to the CPU 142 through the USB terminal 141.

If the storage command is received and a compressed video and/or audiosignal is received through the USB terminal 141, the received videoand/or audio signal is controlled by the CPU 142 and stored on thestorage medium 143. However, if the reproduction command is received,the CPU 142 controls the storage medium 143 so that the stored videoand/or audio signal stored on the storage medium 143 is transmitted tothe display apparatus 110 through the USB terminal 141.

The PC 140 may be replaced by a digital camcorder, a personal digitalassistant, digital player (such as an MP3 player), a memory card, or avideo card, each including a USB terminal and a CPU. Also, the storagemedium 143 may be a hard disk (HDD), or may be an optical medium, suchas recordable compact discs (CDs), digital versatile discs (DVDs),Blu-ray discs, or advanced optical discs (AOD's).

In the embodiment described above, the display apparatus 110 iscontrolled, and the environment for transmitting and receiving a signalbetween the display apparatus 110 and a PC 140 is set. A video signaland/or an audio signal received through the video signal and/or audiosignal receiving processor 111 is compressed and stored in real time onthe storage medium 143 included in the PC 140, or a video signal and/oran audio signal stored on the storage medium 143 is reproduced andrestored. In this embodiment, the user can input the storage request ora reproduction request, with reference to OSB information displayed on adisplay unit 113 or audio guide information output through the speaker115.

According to an aspect of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the CPU118 of the display apparatus 110 performs the storage or reproductionwhile directly controlling the storage medium 143, without control ofCPU 142 included in the PC 140. If a user input requires control of thestorage medium 143 in operation 301, the CPU 118 forms a virtual filesystem (i.e., a system for managing the stored data) for the storagemedium 143 in operation 302. The CPU 118 can download a file systemmanaged by the CPU 142 of the PC 140 or stored on the storage medium 143using the USB controller 119, and forms the virtual file system.However, the virtual file system can also be stored locally in thedisplay apparatus 110. According to an aspect of the invention, thevirtual file system is an abstraction of a physical file system andallows a consistent interface to multiple file systems, both local andremote, and allows a single directory to reference a number of diversefile system types as if the files were in a consistent file system type.However, it is understood that other file systems could be used so longas the file system, whether virtual or otherwise, allows the CPU 118access to the stored audio and/or video data in the storage medium 143.

Then, the CPU 118 generates management information for the storagemedium 143 using the virtual file system (operation 303). The managementinformation includes time information corresponding to a storagecapacity of the storage medium 143, and list information of the videosignal and/or audio signal stored on the storage medium 143. Themanagement information can be output as OSD information or as an audiosignal.

In order to allow a user to control the storage medium 143, informationthat can be required or input by the user as in operation 202 of FIG. 2can also be output as OSD information or as an audio signal. Also, if aplurality of video signals and audio signals are stored on the storagemedium 143, the list information includes index information for theplurality of video signals and audio signals. Accordingly, the user canselect and reproduce a desired video signal and audio signal based onthe list information. It is further understood that the information mayinclude search results related to input received from a user.

If the user requires storage of the received video signal and/or audiosignal in operation 304, the CPU 118 controls the compression anddecompression unit 116 in a compression mode in operation 305. The CPU118 controls the USB controller 119 so that the video signal and/oraudio signal compressed by the compression and decompression unit 116 istransmitted to the PC 140 through the USB controller 119 (operation306). Accordingly, the storage medium 143 of the PC 140 stores the videosignal and/or audio signal received through the USB terminal 141,without control of the CPU 142.

The compressed video signal and/or audio signal is one among abroadcasting signal or a video signal and/or an audio signal transmittedfrom an external AV device and a signal selected by a user. Also, whenthe video signal and/or audio signal is stored, the stored video signaland/or audio signal can be output to the display 113 and/or the speaker115.

If the user requires storage termination in operation 307, the CPU 118terminates the storage operation. However, if the user does not requirethe storage termination in operation 307, the CPU 118 returns tooperation 306, and continuously stores the compressed video signaland/or audio signal until a signal requiring the storage termination isreceived.

Meanwhile, if storage is not required in operation 304 and if the userrequires reproduction of a video signal and/or audio signal stored onthe storage medium 143 in operation 308, the CPU 118 controls thecompression and decompression unit 116 in a decompression mode inoperation 309. The CPU 118 reads a video and/or audio signal from thestorage medium 143 of the PC 140 through the USB controller 119 inoperation 310. The CPU 118 restores the read video and/or the audiosignal in the compression and decompression unit 116, and controls thevideo signal processor 112 to display the restored video signal and/oraudio signal on the display unit 113. The reproduced video signal can becontrolled so that it is displayed together, such as in a PIP or PBPformat, with the video signal received through the video and audiosignal receiving processor 111.

If the user requires reproduction termination in operation 312, the CPU118 terminates the reproduction operation. However, if the user does notrequire the reproduction termination, the CPU 118 returns to operation310 and continuously performs the reproduction operation until a signalrequiring the reproduction termination is received.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a display apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present invention and peripheral devices thereof. Thesystem shown in FIG. 4 comprises an antenna 400, a display apparatus410, a remote controller 430, and a storage and reproduction unit 440.The antenna 400 and the remote controller 430 are generally the same asthe antenna 100 and the remote controller 130 shown in FIG. 1. Thedisplay apparatus 410 is constructed so that a video and/or an audiosignal is stored or reproduced without compression or restoration.

The display apparatus 410 comprises a video and audio signal receivingprocessor 411, a video signal processor 412, a display unit 413, anaudio signal processor 414, a speaker 415, an information receiver 417,a CUP 418, an USB controller 419, and an OSD information generator 420.The video and audio signal receiving processor 411 receives a videoand/or audio signal from the antenna 400 or an external AV device (notshown). The video and audio signal receiving processor 411 is controlledby the CPU 416 and outputs the received video signal to the video signalprocessor 412 and/or the USB controller 419. The video and audio signalreceiving processor 411 is controlled by the CPU 418 and outputs thereceived audio signal to the audio signal processor 414 and/or the USBcontroller 419.

The video signal processor 412, the display unit 413, the audio signalprocessor 414, the speaker 415, the information receiver 417, and theOSD information generator 420 operate in the same or similar manner asthe video signal processor 112, the display unit 113, the audio signalprocessor 114, the speaker 115, the information receiver 117, and theOSD information generator 120, respectively, shown in FIG. 1.

When the received video signal and/or an audio signal is stored, the USBcontroller 419 is controlled by the CPU 418, and transmits the videoand/or the audio signal output from the video and audio signal receivingprocessor 411 to the storage and reproduction unit 440. Also, when avideo signal and/or audio signal stored on the storage medium 442 isreproduced, the USB controller 419 outputs the video signal transmittedfrom the storage and reproduction unit 440 to the video signal processor412, and outputs the audio signal transmitted from the storage andreproduction unit 440 to the audio signal processor 414. As such, nofurther compression or decompression is performed to the received signalunless the received signal is received compressed and no furtherdecompression is required except using the processors 412, 414.

The CPU 418 operates as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is aflow chart of a method for operating the display apparatus, according tostill another embodiment of the present invention. While not required inall aspects, the method of FIG. 5 can be implemented as computersoftware usable by the CPU 418.

Referring to FIG. 5, if a user requires to control the storage medium442 in operation 501, the CPU 418 forms a virtual file system for thestorage medium 442 in operation 502. The CPU 418 downloads a file systemstored on the storage medium 442 using the USB controller 419 and formsthe virtual file system using the downloaded file system. However, it isunderstood that such a virtual file system can also be stored in thedisplay 410, and that the file system can be obtained otherwise thanfrom the storage medium 442.

Then, the CPU 418 generates management information for the storagemedium 442 using the virtual file system in operation 503. Themanagement information includes time information corresponding to thestorage capacity of the storage medium 442, and list information of avideo signal and/or an audio signal stored on the storage medium 442.The management information can be output as OSD information or as anaudio signal.

For allowing the user to control the storage medium 442, informationthat can be required or input by the user can also be output as OSDinformation or as an audio signal. Also, if a plurality of video signalsand audio signals are stored on the storage medium 442, the listinformation includes index information for the plurality of videosignals and audio signals. Accordingly, the user can select andreproduce a desired video signal and audio signal based on the listinformation. It is further understood that the information may includesearch results related to input received from a user.

If the user requires storage of the received video signal and/or audiosignal in operation 504, the CPU 418 controls the display apparatus 410so that a video signal and/or audio signal output from the video andaudio signal receiving processor 411 is transmitted to the storage andreproduction unit 440 through the USB controller 419 (operation 505).The storage and reproduction unit 440 stores the video and/or audiosignal received through the USB terminal 441 in the storage medium 442.When the video signal and/or audio signal are stored on the storagemedium 442, the stored video signal and/or audio signal can be output tothe display unit 413 and/or the speaker 415.

If storage termination is required in operation 506, the CPU 418terminates the storage operation. However, if the storage termination isnot required in operation 506, the CPU 418 returns to operation 505 andcontinuously transmits the received video signal and/or audio signal tothe storage and reproduction unit until a signal requiring the storagetermination is received.

If storage is not required in operation 504 and the user requiresreproduction of a video signal and/or audio signal stored on the storagemedium 443 in operation 507, the CPU 418 reads the video signal and/oraudio signal from the storage medium 442 of the storage and reproductionunit 440 using the USB controller 419 in operation 508. If a pluralityof video signals and/or audio signals are stored on the storage medium442, the read video signal and/or audio signal may be one video signaland/or audio signal among the plurality of video signals and/or audiosignals.

The CPU 418 controls the display apparatus 410 so that the read videosignal and/or audio signal is transmitted to the video signal processor412 and the audio signal processor 414, respectively (operation 509).Accordingly, the display unit 413 and the speaker 415 output areproduced video signal and audio signal, respectively. The reproducedvideo signal can be displayed together, such as in a PIP or PBP format,with the video signal received through the video and audio signalreceiving processor 411.

If the user requires the reproduction termination in operation 510, theCPU 418 terminates the reproduction operation. However if the user doesnot require the reproduction termination, the CPU 418 returns tooperation 508 and continuously performs the reproduction operation untila signal requiring the reproduction termination is received.

It is understood that the storage and reproduction unit 440 of FIG. 4may be a memory card without a CPU. However, the unit 440 can alsoinclude a CPU which is not used during the recording and/orreproduction. If the storage and reproduction unit 440 receives a videoand/or audio signal through the USB terminal 441, the storage andreproduction unit 440 stores the received video signal and/or audiosignal in the storage medium 442. Also, the storage and reproductionunit 440 outputs a video signal and/or audio signal stored on thestorage medium 442 through the USB terminal 441. Such storage andreproduction through the storage medium 442 are controlled by the CPU418 using the virtual file system formed in the CPU 418.

As described above, according to an aspect of the present invention, itis possible to store a received video and audio signal in a storagemedium included in a PC or other electronic device, and to reproduce asignal therefrom, by operating only a display apparatus withoutcontrolling the PC connected to the display apparatus. Therefore, a userdoes not need to operate the PC individually, in order to store andreproduce the video and audio signal received through the displayapparatus. Also, according to an aspect of the invention, the user doesnot need to download related programs to the PC or mount a board such asa television integration board separately in the PC, for signal storageand reproduction. Additionally, according to an aspect of the invention,a storage and reproduction unit that includes a USB terminal without aPC can store and reproduce a video and/or audio signal received througha display apparatus. Further, according to an aspect of the invention,it is possible to improve a storage capacity of a storage medium bycompressing a received video and audio signal in a display apparatus andtransmitting the result to the external storage medium. Moreover,according to an aspect of the invention, it is possible to providevarious storage and reproduction environments to users since a user canselect a display format of a video signal to be stored or reproduced.

While not required in all aspects, it is understood that the controllercan be computer implementing the method using the computer programencoded on a computer readable medium. The computer can be implementedas a chip having firmware, or can be a general or special purposecomputer programmable to perform the method. Additionally, whiledescribed in terms of a display apparatus, it is understood that theinvention can be used with an apparatus that reproduces other receivedsignals without displaying video signals, such as audio receivers, or anapparatus that receives audio data and other data (such as image dataand/or text information) to be displayed. It is further understood thatthe signal can be reproduced from the external storage medium whilerecording the received signal on the external storage medium.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and describedwith reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form anddetails may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the following claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display apparatus enclosure configured to becapable of being connected to a removable external storage device,disposed external to the display apparatus through a port of the displayapparatus, the display apparatus comprising: a receiving unit configuredto receive at least one of a television broadcast signal and a storeddigital video signal and audio signal from the external storage device;a controller that, when a user is determined to have commanded storageof the received television broadcast signal, stores the receivedtelevision broadcast signal in the external storage device as the storeddigital video signal and audio signal; and an output unit, including atleast a display unit, to output at least one of the received televisionbroadcast signal and a reproduction of the stored digital video signaland audio signal, wherein the controller manages the storage orreproduction of the stored digital video signal and audio signal withrespect to the external storage device using a virtual file system forthe display apparatus, the virtual file system having a form based on areading of a file system of the external storage device, the virtualfile system for the display apparatus being configurable to be anabstraction of one or more physical file systems.
 2. The displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller generates managementinformation to manage the storage or reproduction of the stored digitalvideo signal and audio signal respectively to and from the externalstorage device, wherein the management information comprises timeinformation corresponding to a storage capacity of the external storagedevice and/or a list identifying the stored digital video signal andaudio signal and any additional or alternate digital video signals andaudio signals stored in the external storage device.
 3. The displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller, based upon a determinedrequest from the user, retrieves the stored digital video signal andaudio signal from the external storage device through the port.
 4. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when an input of the user isdetermined to request control of the external storage device, thecontroller outputs management information for the external storagedevice to the user using the output unit.
 5. The display apparatus ofclaim 4, wherein the management information is displayed in an on-screendisplay format on the display unit.
 6. The display apparatus of claim 4,wherein the management information is output as an audio signal througha speaker of the output unit.
 7. The display apparatus of claim 4,wherein the management information comprises time informationcorresponding to a storage capacity of the external storage device and alist identifying the stored digital video signal and audio signal andany additional or alternate digital video signals and audio signalsstored in the external storage device.
 8. The display apparatus of claim4, wherein the controller further controls a reproduction of analternate digital video signal and audio signal selected from aplurality of reproducible digital video signals and audio signals storedin the external storage device and which are selected by a user withreference to the output management information.
 9. The display apparatusof claim 1, wherein the controller monitors for an input by the userwhich determines whether the user has commanded the storage of thereceived television broadcast signal.
 10. The display apparatus of claim1, wherein the external storage device is a Universal Serial Bus (USB)memory device.
 11. A display apparatus configured to be capable of beingconnected with a removable external storage device, disposed external tothe display apparatus through a port of the display apparatus, thedisplay apparatus comprising: a receiving unit that receives a digitalvideo signal and an audio signal; a compression and decompression unitthat, based upon a determination that a user requests storing of thereceived digital video signal and audio signal as a stored digital videosignal and audio signal, is set to a compression mode to compress thereceived digital video signal and audio signal; an output unit,including at least a display unit, to output at least one of thereceived digital video signal and a reproduction of the stored digitalvideo signal; and a controller to control the outputting of the at leastone of the received digital video signal, the reproduction of the storeddigital video signal, and a storage of the compressed digital videosignal and audio signal to the external storage device, wherein thecontroller uses a virtual file system for the display apparatus tocontrol the external storage device, the virtual file system having aform based on a reading of a file system of the external storage device,the virtual file system for the display apparatus being configurable tobe an abstraction of one or more physical file systems, and wherein thecontroller controls the storage or reproduction of the stored digitalvideo signal with respect to the external storage device using thevirtual file system.
 12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein thecontroller, based upon a determination that the user requests thestoring of the received digital video signal and audio signal, controlsthe compression and decompression unit to operate in the compressionmode and stores the compressed digital video signal and audio signal tothe external storage device in real time with the receiving of thedigital video signal and audio signal by the receiving unit, andcontrols, based upon a determination that the user requests thereproduction of the stored digital video signal and audio signal, outputof the reproduction of the stored digital video signal and audio signalto the output unit after being decompressed by the compression anddecompression unit.
 13. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein thecontroller generates management information for managing the storedvideo signal and the audio signal in the external storage device, andwherein the management information comprises time informationcorresponding to a storage capacity of the external storage device and alist identifying the stored digital video signal and audio signal andany additional or alternate digital video and audio signals stored inthe external storage device.
 14. The display apparatus of claim 13,wherein the controller controls an output of the management informationto the user using the output unit.
 15. The display apparatus of claim14, wherein the controller controls the management information to bedisplayed in an on-screen display format on the display unit.
 16. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 11, wherein, when the controller controls thereceived video signal to be output through the output unit in real time,the controller further controls the storage of the received digitalvideo signal and audio signal or reproduction of the stored digitalvideo signal and audio signal with respect to the external storagedevice.
 17. The display apparatus of claim 16, wherein, when the storeddigital video signal and audio signal are reproduced from the externalstorage device, the controller displays the reproduction of the videosignal, restored by the compression and decompression unit, and thereceived digital video signal together on the display unit in aPicture-In-Picture format or in a Picture-By-Picture format.
 18. Thedisplay apparatus of claim 11, wherein the controller monitors for aninput by the user that determines whether the user requests the storingof the received digital video signal and audio signal.
 19. The displayapparatus of claim 11, wherein the external storage device is aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) memory device.
 20. A display apparatusenclosure configured to be capable of being connected to a removableexternal storage device, disposed external to the display apparatusthrough a port of the display apparatus, the display apparatuscomprising: a receiving unit that receives at least one of a televisionbroadcast signal and a stored digital video signal and audio signal fromthe external storage device; a controller that, when a user isdetermined to have commanded storage of the received televisionbroadcast signal, stores the received television broadcast signal to theexternal storage device as the stored digital video signal and audiosignal; and a display unit to display at least one of the receiveddigital video signal and a reproduction of the stored digital videosignal, wherein the controller controls the storage or reproduction ofthe stored digital video and audio signal with respect to the externalstorage device using a virtual file system for the display apparatus,the virtual file system having a form based on a reading of a filesystem of the external storage device from the external storage device.21. The display apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a speaker tooutput at least the received audio signal.
 22. The display apparatus ofclaim 20, wherein the virtual file system for the display apparatus isconfigurable to be an abstraction of one or more physical file systems.23. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the controller generatesmanagement information for managing the stored digital video signal andaudio signal in the external storage device, and wherein the managementinformation comprises time information corresponding to a storagecapacity of the external storage device and a list including the storeddigital video signal and audio signal and any additional or alternativedigital video and audio signals stored in the external storage device.24. The display apparatus of claim 20, wherein the controller monitorsfor an input by the user that determines whether the user has commandedthe storage of the received television broadcast signal.
 25. The displayapparatus of claim 20, wherein the external storage device is aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) memory device.